Read Psalm 51
For those of us who enjoy cooking or eating Italian food, there is an important ingredient that adds incredible flavor and aroma, and also makes necessary the need for after dinner mints. It is garlic. Garlic has an analogy to our spiritual lives because an aspect of this aromatic seasoning requires it to be crushed to release the essential oils within. If we want garlic to be at its flavorful best, it must be crushed. The fiber and essence of the garlic clove needs to be broken to set free its special taste and aroma.
1. Do you like garlic? If so, what is your favorite garlic-laden food?
Likewise the Scriptures instruct us of the release and freedom in the spiritual realm that comes with brokenness. The Treasure of David Commentary tells us that “A heart crushed is a fragrant heart”.
Indeed David’s heart became crushed and broken after the prophet Nathan confronted him of his sin with David’s involvement with Bathsheba and his orders to place her husband in harm’s way, then attempting to cover it all up.
But as David recognized the deception in his heart and the depth of his offense against God and the people involved (the repercussions of which were far-reaching for David was a leader). David became broken. In Psalm 51 we not only get to be eyewitnesses to the state of his heart, we see a Biblical pattern for repentance and restoration. Though the choices he made and the choices we make when we are enticed to sin do great damage, God is absolutely ready and willing to restore broken hearts and bring good out of bad, even when the bad has been our own doing.
Some of our best life lessons are learned in seasons of brokenness. Brokenness isn’t always the result of wrong choices on our part. Sometimes we become broken by the sinful choices of others, and sometimes life’s circumstances cause a process of brokenness in our lives. We can choose by an act of our will to humble ourselves before God and become broken in attitude without encountering adversity, and that is the best choice of all.
2. What in your life has come into a proper perspective or an area in which you have more clarity because there has been a sense of brokenness in your life?
We usually consider something that has been broken to be in a state of disrepair headed for the landfill. In this information age of electronic gadgetry it is often more cost effective to buy a new appliance or tool than to have it repaired. Broken in this instance is not a good word. But Biblical brokenness is a state where we have come to the end of ourselves, and that, accompanied by a humble spirit is indeed is a good thing.
David surely sinned against some people directly and a larger group of people indirectly. But how did David sense that he had sinned? (verse 4).
Consider some of the “innocent” victims of David’s sin. They did nothing in the situation yet their lives were impacted. When someone dear to us is hurt we recognize our powerlessness and need of God. We are incapable of protecting all who are close to our hearts. Do you relate to this scenario and if so, what did you learn about trusting in God’s goodness and sovereignty in the situation?
In verse one, how does David describe God’s character?
How has the graciousness, lovingkindness and compassion of God ministered to you in possible situations of:
feeling like everyone has let me down but God alone.
being powerless over my reputation when others have spoken ill of me.
feeling like my prayers are “hitting the ceiling”.
working hard to plan something good and having it turn out bad.
seeing my dream die.
experiencing a season of loss.
facing the reality of aging and changing health.
having to depend on the goodness of others, losing my sense of independence and self-
sufficiency.
ending up in a place I thought I would never be and in foreign circumstances with no
foreseeable light at the end of the tunnel.
behaving badly and not liking the part of me that is revealed.
What do verses 10-13 tell us about God? What is God willing and able to do with a “broken” life?
Did David believe that God would forgive and restore him? What was David’s confidence level in God and His love for him?
Was David able to receive God’s forgiveness and then forgive himself?
How about you? Can you completely receive God’s gift of forgiveness and believe that God wants to totally restore every area of your life?
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/treasury-of-david/psalms-51-17.html
http://startcooking.com/blog/51/How-to-Slice--Mince-and-Crush-Garlic
Psalm 51 (New American Standard)
